1 Early in the morning, Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people with him set up camp beside the spring of Harod. Meanwhile, the camp of Midian was to the north of them, by the hill of Moreh in the valley.
2 The LORD said to Gideon, "You have too many people with you for me to hand Midian over to them, lest Israel boast against me, claiming, 'My own strength has delivered me.'
3 Now therefore, announce to the people: 'Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and depart from Mount Gilead.'" So, twenty-two thousand men returned, but ten thousand remained.
4 Then the LORD said to Gideon, "There are still too many people. Take them down to the water, and there I will test them for you. Whoever I say, 'This one shall go with you,' he shall go; and whoever I say, 'This one shall not go with you,' he shall not go."
5 So Gideon brought the people down to the water. There the LORD said to him, "Separate those who lap the water with their tongues, as a dog laps, from those who kneel down to drink."
6 The number of those who lapped with their hands to their mouths was three hundred men. All the rest of the people knelt to drink water.
7 The LORD said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men who lapped, I will save you and hand Midian over to you. Let all the others go home."
8 So the three hundred men took provisions and their trumpets. The rest of the men of Israel were sent away, each to his own home, but Gideon kept the three hundred men. Meanwhile, the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.
9 That night the LORD said to him, "Get up and go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hands.